BRANSON, Mo. -- Sandwiched between standing ovations before and after her 27-minute address, the daily editor from tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri, offered a stirring endorsement of why newspapers matter.

When former UPI CEO Paul Steinle finished up a second career as an associate provost and journalism professor he wasn't ready to flat-out retire, and he was fascinated to understand hand the story of how America's best daily newspapers are changing. So he and his wife -- a one-time human-resources officer for the Los Angeles Times -- left their home near Southern Oregon University, took $40,000 of thei

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Media Giraffe alum Tom Stites has been hard at work on the Banyan Projectsince we first featured him in 2006. He describes the effort to pursue co-operative local journalism in this short essay, prompted by a discussion about the difference between "curation" and "editing." His contact information is at the bottom

In this 2006 interview, Frank Blethen and Mike Fancher discuss the Seattle Times on its 110th Anniversary, talking about the joys and challenges of running a locally owned family newspaper. They touch upon the uniqueness of this business model in the modern newspaper industry and the familys commitment to journalistic values and community service.

When CBS News executive Andrew Heyward appeared at the We Media conference at The Associated Press in New York City in October, he offered important comments about the end of mainstream media's "omniscience." Subsequently, New York University professor and press critic Jay Rosen persuaded Heyward to document his remarks. Got to Rosen's site to read what Heyward wrote.

On the weblog of New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen, there's a guest piece by the editor of the Spokane Statesman-Review, a 107,000-circulation daily, about their extensive efforts at creating a "transparent newsroom." It's a detailed look at one newspaper's effort to change.

At the Online News Association convention in New York in the last week of October, reporter Christen DeProto asked a sampling of attendees: "What will journalism be like in 10 years." Please visit MGP blog to read what respondents said, and to add your prediction.